Roman Inscription

Azraq, Jordan

This bilinqual Latin-Greek inscription is the earliest of several found on site. It refers to the co-emperors Diocletian and Maximian as Jupiter and Hercules, thus proving that the fort must have been built at least as early as the reign of Diocletian (284-305 AD).

 Qasr al-Azraq

About 13 kilometers north of the Azraq Junction, on the highway to Iraq, you will find the large black fortress of Qasr al-Azraq. The present form of the castle dates back to the beginning of the 13th century CE. Crafted from local black basalt rocks, the castle exploited Azraq’s important strategic position and water sources.

The first fortress here is thought to have been built by the Romans around 300 CE, during the reign of Diocletian. The structure was also used by the Byzantines and Umayyads. Qasr al-Azraq underwent its final major stage of building in 1237 CE, when the Mamluks redesigned and fortified it. In the 16th century the Ottoman Turks stationed a garrison there, and Lawrence of Arabia made the fortress his desert headquarters during the winter of 1917, during the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire.

The castle is almost square, with 80-meter long walls encircling a central courtyard. In the middle of the courtyard is a small mosque that may be from Umayyad times, along with the main well. At each corner of the outer wall, there is an oblong tower. The primary entrance is a single massive hinged slab of granite, which leads to a vestibule where one can see carved into the pavement the remains of a Roman board game. Above the entrance area is the chamber that was used by Lawrence during his stay in Qasr al-Azraq. The caretaker of the castle has a collection of photographs of Lawrence; in fact, his father was one of the Arab officers who served with the legendary Brit.

The stone door in one of the Desert Castles in Jordan: Qasr Al-Azraq. This castle is said to have been used as his headquarters by Lawrence of Arabia (so said the keeper).
Although each of the leaves of this door weights about one metric ton (still so said the keeper), this door is quite easy to move, as it is lubricated by palm tree oil. The right-side leaf was closed specially for the photo by the author.
Français : La porte de pierre d'un des Châteaux du Désert en Jordanie: Qasr Al-Azraq. Ce château aurait été utilisé comme quartier général par Lawrence d'Arabie (d'après le gardien).
Bien que chacun des vantaux de cette porte pèse environ une tonne (toujours d'après le gardien), elle est assez facile a bouger, car lubrifiée à l'huile de palmier. Le vantail de droite a été fermé spécialement pour la photo par l'auteur.

Qasr Azraq Desert Castle
About 13 kilometers north of the Azraq Junction, on the highway to Iraq, you will find the large black fortress of Qasr Al Azraq.

The present form of the castle dates back to the beginning of the 13th century CE. Crafted from local black basalt rock, the castle exploited Azraq’s important strategic position and water sources. There is also a wetland natural reserve surrounding Azraq.

The first fortress here is thought to have been built by the Romans around 300 CE, during the reign of Diocletian. The structure was also used by the Byzantines and Umayyads. Qasr al Azraq underwent its final major stage of building in 1237 CE, when the Mamluks redesigned and fortified it.

In the 16th century the Ottoman Turks stationed a garrison there, and Lawrence of Arabia made the fortress his desert headquarters during the winter of 1917, during the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire.

The castle is almost square, with 80-metre long walls encircling a central courtyard. In the middle of the courtyard is a small mosque that may be from Umayyad times, along with the main well.

At each corner of the outer wall, there is an oblong tower.

The primary entrance is a single massive hinged slab of granite, which leads to a vestibule where one can see the remains of a board game carved into the pavement.

Above the entrance area is the chamber that was used by Lawrence during his stay in Qasr Al Azraq.